The Enduring Legacy of Fayette County’s Home Demonstration Clubs

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More than six decades ago, Fayette County farmwomen Dean Pape, Thelma Dopslauf and Marilyn Petrich had four things in common. One, they had small kids. Two, they didn’t work in jobs off the farm. Three, they weren’t born and raised in Fayette County. Four, they loved learning, especially how to better care for their families and homes.

Between 1947 and 1950, Dean, Thelma and Marilyn were each invited by a neighbor lady in their respective communities to attend a Home Demonstration Club meeting as a guest. Because all three newcomers liked what they saw and heard, it wasn’t long before they were wholeheartedly embracing the clubs’ mission to teach practical information and household management skills. In fact, they still applaud those goals.